Alaska Lawmakers Set to Try Again on Pension
Reform

>The state Senate on Thursday named another set of
negotiators for a bill that would partly privatize the
state’s retirement systems for new employees (See
Alaska Grapples With
Pension Reform
) – the third such grouping to focus on that
controversial measure, the Associated Press reported.

>The contentious legislative debate in Alaska is
being closely watched by government worker pension groups
as a telling example of a growing nationwide trend away
from defined benefit programs to defined contribution
arrangements (see
Taking It
Personal
).

>The main stumbling block this week at the Alaska
Statehouse is that the House of Representatives failed to
name its representatives to the conference committee – a
move that infuriated Senate Republican leaders, the news
report said. Earlier this week the House voted down
the last conference committee versions of the retirement
bill, with detractors complaining that the proposed
retirement measure’s 401(k)-type accounts were too
risky.

>Senate Republican leaders accused the House
leadership of stalling and being controlled by the “union
thugs” who work the second floor Capitol hallway between
the House and Senate chambers, according to the news
report.

>According to the news report, the sharp comments on
all sides are indicative of the strain that lawmakers are
under after nine days of the special session and continued
deadlock on the major bills, including next year’s capital
and operating budgets.